MHA Distributes Financial Indicators Analysis

MHA has made available a financial indicator analysis that provides comparative financial metrics for individual hospitals compared to national benchmarks. The analysis uses standard accepted formulas as defined and published by various rating agencies. The source for the financial information is from the first quarter 2016 Healthcare Cost Report Information System database, which includes the Medicare cost report data. MHA has posted the files to HIDI Analytic Advantage® for review.

CMS Issues Proposed CY 2017 ESRD PPS Payment And Policy Update

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the proposed Medicare payment and policy updates for the calendar year 2017 end-stage renal disease PPS. The proposed rule includes updates to the ESRD Quality Improvement Program, coverage and payment for acute kidney injury, Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies Competitive Bidding Program and fee schedule, and comprehensive ESRD care model. Under the proposed rule, dialysis facilities would receive a 0.5 percent or $50 million increase in 2017. CMS further estimates that hospital-based ESRD facilities will see a 0.7 percent increase. There are no new clinical or reporting measures for 2018 ESRD QIP; however, CMS did propose two substantive changes to the hypercalcemia clinical measure to ensure that the measure remains in alignment with specifications endorsed by the National Quality Forum. The proposed rule is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Thursday, June 30, and comments are due Tuesday, Aug. 23. MHA has published an issue brief with additional details.

HIDI HealthStats — Mental Health In Missouri

The June issue of HIDI HealthStats discusses the limited access, increasing demand and tragic consequences of mental health in Missouri. Hospital inpatient and emergency department visits for all mental health and substance abuse disorders have substantially increased for Missourians during the last decade. In 2006, Missourians visited a hospital inpatient or ED for mental health-related problems on 123,140 occasions. By 2015, this number rose to more than 167,000 visits. Throughout the 10-year period, hospital utilization for mental diseases and disorders (MDC 19) increased by 28 percent for Missouri patients — a 17 percent increase in inpatient hospitalizations and a 42 percent increase in ED visits. At the same time, visits for substance abuse or induced mental disorders (MDC 20) grew by 68 percent — a 46 percent increase in hospitalizations and a 79 percent increase in ED visits (Figure 3). By comparison, Missouri hospital utilization for all other diagnoses increased by only 16 percent — a 10 percent decline in inpatient utilization and a 26 percent increase in ED visits. This 10-year expansion in hospital utilization for mental health-related issues outstripped the growth rate for all other hospital utilization combined by a factor of 2.3 to 1.

In 2015, Missouri hospitals treated nearly 86,000 unique Missouri patients for mental health disorders or substance abuse. With an average of 3.9 visits each, these patients were treated for mental health or substance abuse on multiple occasions. The majority of these patients — 79.6 percent — were treated for mental diseases and disorders, 27 percent of patients were treated for substance abuse or induced mental disorders, and just 6.6 percent were treated for both.

Among all payers, Medicaid patients seeking treatment for mental health diseases and disorders, and substance abuse accounted for the most hospital visits in 2015. Patients with Medicaid listed as their primary insurer accounted for 35 percent of MDC 19 visits, 25 percent of MDC 20 visits and only 15 percent of Missouri’s total population. Uninsured patients also accounted for a larger proportion of total visits than expected based on their composition of the population of only 9 percent. Combined, Medicaid and uninsured patients accounted for 52 percent of visits for mental diseases and disorders, 65 percent of visits for substance abuse and induced mental disorders, and 16 percent of the total population in Missouri.

MHA Updates July 2016 Star Rating Hospital-Specific Reports

Hospitals that had issues accessing their July 2016 Hospital Compare overall star rating hospital-specific reports now can access them on QualityNet. No action is required for facilities that had a successful download. For optimal user-experience, use version 11 of Internet Explorer to access the website. HSRs will be available until Saturday, July 23.

CMS Announces IPFQR Data Submission Period

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced that the period for hospitals participating in the Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Quality Reporting Program to submit calendar year 2015 web-based measures data will begin Tuesday, July 19. The deadline for reporting remains Monday, Aug. 15. CMS acknowledges that the delay from the historical July 1 start date will result in a shortened, four-week data submission period and has taken steps to facilitate hospitals’ processes.

The review and correction period for HCAHPS data is Thursday, July 7, to Wednesday, July 13. Immediately following the July 6 data submission deadline, participating hospitals and survey vendors have a seven-day opportunity to access and review the HCAHPS data review and correction report on the QualityNet Secure Portal. The report includes a summary of the data accepted into the warehouse for the quarter. New data are not accepted into the warehouse during the review and correction period. However, errors in HCAHPS data accepted into the warehouse by the July 6 deadline can be corrected. During the seven-day period, the corrected HCAHPS data can be resubmitted to the warehouse to replace incorrect data.

DHSS Posts Informational Webinar Resources

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has posted several informational webinars on its website. The webinars are less than 15 minutes and cover the topics of health professional shortage designation, the small rural health improvement program and the department’s report on health in rural Missouri.